Friday 5 June 2015

Bonnie's Opinion: What is God's love language?

Photo taken by me, looking down our street

Ever heard of the five love languages? (If you haven't, click here to find out more and take the love language test.)

Real quickly, there are five love languages. Quality time, physical touch, words of affirmation, acts of service and gift-giving. Most individuals on this earth feel more loved by one of the languages than the others, and show love best by using that language. For example, my love language is physical touch. Hugs are very special to me (in fact, if I go for a few days without physical contact with anyone, I start to crave it!). I just love to cuddle up next to someone on the couch. And I show love by giving people hugs and back rubs.

I was thinking about this whole idea of love languages recently... and wondered, what is God's love language?

First of all, I immediately thought of my own language and was like, yip, God's love language is physical touch.
Obviously, God can't exactly hug us physically since he's in a different realm, but he touches us emotionally. The Holy Spirit can be very tangible. People can be healed from physical problems. Our lives are changed when God comes and touches us. And what is more physically touching than Jesus who was sent to live on earth to die on a cross for our sins? That was a physical thing to do. And it touches us. There's another aspect of Physical Touch in our relationship with God, and that is the physicality of our worship – the raising of our hands, bowing down or dancing before him with abandonment as David did. Or the laying on of hands in prayer.

But then, maybe God's love language is words of affirmation.
Philippians 4:13“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” God strengthens us. When we are feeling discouraged, tired and weary, God encourages. Isaiah 42:3 "A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out." I have found many times in my life when I've felt like I needed encouragement, and God was right there, beside me, supporting me when I needed it most.

Or maybe God's love language is gift-giving.
I think that the greatest gift of all ever given was the gift of Jesus, which was a gift God gave. God having a love language of gifts would make sense. God loves to give gifts. He gave us this earth, trees, sunshine, fellow human beings... those are all wonderful gifts. And he loves it when we reciprocate and give him the gift of ourselves. We have nothing to offer him... but ourselves.

I wonder if God's love language is acts of service.
Mark 10:45 "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Remember that time Jesus came and washed his disciple's feet? (Find it in John 13:1-17.) He was displaying acts of service wherever he went in his ministry.

Perhaps God's love language is quality time.
God loves to spend time with us. He loves it when we spend time with him. He loves to talk to us, interact with us, spend time with us. Luke 10:38-42 tells the story of when Jesus went to Mary and Martha's house. He didn't find Martha's acts of service as valuable to him as Mary's quality time, who sat at his feet, just being with him.


And then I looked over my list and was like, I don't think any one of those love languages is specifically God's love language. You know what? I think God speaks love in all languages equally.

Each individual feels most loved when we speak love in their special language. But God, being omnipotent, all loving, and all wise, speaks all languages equally. He knows how to speak to us most by speaking to us in our love language (not all the time, but often). And when we speak any of the languages to him, he feels loved. I don't think he feels more loved by any one than another, he loves them all.


Romans 5:8 - but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

1 Peter 5:6-7 - Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Psalm 86:15 - But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.


Have you heard of the five love languages before? 
What's your love language?
What do you think God's love language is? 
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PS. Thank you so much to my four lovely guest bloggers who posted for me over the last few days. :) Unfortunately one of the ones I had lined up to post had to pull out for unforseen circumstances, but that's life. :)
I've been on camp for a week and it's been incredible. I've got lots of exciting things to share with you about what the Lord has been teaching me.

2 comments:

  1. I really like this post Bonnie. I think God shares all the love languages equally, too. Actually, before I read this post, I never really thought about it before, but now I think you're right. :)
    I have heard of that test, and I think my love language is quality time.
    Love,
    Ashley
    creatingpreciousmoments.blogspot.com

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for commenting, Ashley! :) It's interesting to think about, isn't it.

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